Prep boys in top form

Cross-Country: Rebel boys take first, while girls finish fourth at league meet.

September 14, 2011|By Andrew Campa, andrew.campa@latimes.com

PALOS VERDES PENINSULA — It was a day of mixed results for the Flintridge Prep boys' and girls' cross-country programs at Tuesday afternoon's first Prep League meet at the Peninsula Cross Country course.

As expected, the Prep boys, the defending league champions, were in top form.

Led by second-place Casey Thompson, the Rebels cruised to a 26-51 victory over runner-up and host Chadwick, which fell to Flintridge Prep, 39-40, in last year's league championship at Pierce College.

"I ran a 15:37 on Saturday [at the Bosco Tech Invitationals] and I really haven't had a rest since," Thompson said. "I was pacing [Chadwick's Sam Cartwright] but he beat me on the hill."

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Cartwright made his move at the two-mile mark and passed Thompson as both began their ascent up "Agony Hill."

On the descent, Cartwright pushed ahead by 10 seconds and increased his advantage to 20 seconds at the 2 1/2-mile point before winning the race in 17 minutes and 21 seconds.

Thompson was second in 17:50, while Pasadena Poly's Michael Caughron was third in 18:05.

It became clear by the one-mile marker that either Cartwright or Thompson would win the race, as the duo broke ahead of Caughron by about 10 seconds and were significantly ahead of the rest of the pack.

Thompson jumped out to a lead after 50 meters to start the race and remained ahead of Cartwright and Caughron.

Thompson's teammates stayed close to their leader, as Aaron Sugimoto finished fourth (18:13) and James Bradley took fifth (18:16).